ELLY GRIMM

   • Leader & Times

As I’ve mentioned multiple times here, there are multiple genres of music I listen to while at work here, and a few days ago, I was in a more country mood. So I went onto YouTube and after some clicking and searching, I came across the newest album from the group Midland, “Stages,” and I decided to take a listen.

I’ve been a country music fan since I was younger (especially when it came to artists like Reba McEntire, Shania Twain and Clint Black, among others) and was absolutely obsessed with Wichita’s KFDI station, so it was actually nice to go back to that to an extent.

To start, the album is pretty easy listening, and all the harmonies between the group’s members are so, so well done, making for a very nice listening experience. I’ve also noticed a lot of artists in the country genre are opting to add some pop sounds in their songs (to varying degrees of success, but that’s another conversation), and it was nice to listen to a some country music that actually sounds like country music. A particular favorite of mine from the album was “I Wish You Would,” which teams the group with Mackenzie Carpenter, which features even more lovely harmonies and could easily be played at any bar or country-themed club. Overall, aurally speaking, the album is full of nice musical hooks, the expected twangy instrumentation, and the right emphases in all the right places.

While the songs all sound nice, however, the album as a whole is chock full of the well-hashed country music clichés (particularly overdrinking in order to forget a recently ended relationship), and the usual tropes, thus not really attempting to scratch beyond the surface and express something deeper. I think there’s maybe one or two of the album’s 10 songs that don’t reference drinking or some alcoholic beverage, and after the album was finished, I couldn’t help but think “Along with therapy, maybe a visit to a few AA meetings should also be on the agenda.” In terms of the songwriting and overall album construction, there definitely could have been some extra effort put forth and if there’s another album in the group’s feature, maybe there should be a memo to stay away from the drinking songs. What you get when you combine all of those aspects is a 10-song album lasting slightly more than half an hour that rather breezes by, and it’s a song to play in the background of a summer party in the backyard or a family gathering.

“Stages” an overall unassuming and inoffensive album that would elicit complaints mostly from people who claim to be allergic to country music. There are times when you put on music and just have it in the background, but even if that’s the goal, there should still be some effort put forth to give listeners a good musical experience. And that could also be due to all the years I was in music classes when I was in school, but I can tell when effort has put into such a project, and there definitely could have been more effort put forth with this.

Overall, I would give Midland’s “Stages” album a “B” grade, but if you’re looking for a nice country album to play in the background, or if you’re a fan of the group’s past work, this would be a good one to cue up.